Pros and Cons of armed security

This is a discussion on Pros and Cons of armed security within the Law Enforcement, Military & Homeland Security Discussion forums, part of the Related Topics category; Hey Gang - My boss called me about a half an hour ago wanting the list of pros and cons of Security being armed. I ...

Pros and Cons of armed security

Hey Gang - My boss called me about a half an hour ago wanting the list of pros and cons of Security being armed. I have all kinds of training material and my own ideas why, however this won't fill the bill. So I figured with the 9,000 years of experience on this site someone might have a list. We have been trying to get the the powers that be to re-arm security in a large hotel casino type environment. Bob and I were working on this before his early departure. He had the time to be on the computer more than I. If anybody can help it will be appreciated. Thanx

One thing you might consider is how much more training and psych evaluation your state requires for armed security. Most states will allow pretty much any high school kid with no felonies to be an unarmed guard, but are really careful about who gets to carry a gun.

If you gonna have armed security, it is better to carry concealed. Guests will wonder why you have armed guards around and think the place is unsafe. Also, I agree with lowflyer, current or former LEO's are good and do not arm anybody under 25 unless you have seen them in stresfull situations and see how they react. Last thing you want is some armed young pup blasting away at some drunk because he called him names and spilled a beer over his uniform.

In Texas all security guards are not allowed to carry concealed. They must carry openly. Bodyguards can carry concealed. Only 30 hours of training is required to become a commissioned (armed) guard in Texas. Businesses usually prefer security guards over police officers as we work cheaper than cops do (to damn cheap a lot of times). Security guards with better training is probably the best answer. Also having a concealed handgun license should count towards security guard training (it doesn't).

The biggest con: Our law makers. They make laws to create jobs to make money for the state with no other thought in mind. That might work for concealed carry but it does not work for armed security. Until our government starts taking security more serious than grabbing peoples money we will always have problems with security.

The second biggest con: Insurance companies. They are always going to continue to bully their way into money. Armed security should be about lowering your insurance rates not increasing them.

Having been a Security Officer for a large casino in Reno several years ago, I can honestly say that some of the people that I worked with didn't need to have firearms.

My list of those with would be the Director of the department, the shift supers and assistants, and lead officers (in my casino it would have been the Floor Training Officers) as far as Security went. I would also liked to have seen the shift lead in Surveillance. They would often come down to the casino floor and aid in arrests.

I think the liability of arming all officers would have been a bad thing, not only for appearance to the casino/hotel guests, but also within the department itsself.

To add few others to the list, the cart man on the pit drops (I remember during busy seasons, we would have three carts on the floor), and maybe the money handlers (from the cage to the pits).

Unless they were in uniform, I would urge for concealed carry. People are a lot less on edge when a uniform is carrying a gun moreso than if some guy in a suit walks by with a gun on his/her hip.

If you gonna have armed security, it is better to carry concealed. Guests will wonder why you have armed guards around and think the place is unsafe. Also, I agree with lowflyer, current or former LEO's are good and do not arm anybody under 25 unless you have seen them in stresfull situations and see how they react. Last thing you want is some armed young pup blasting away at some drunk because he called him names and spilled a beer over his uniform.

Police Departments do hire officers as young as 21, not just 25 and older, and yes, they're armed.

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